Headless Java

Summary

Server installations of Fedora should usually not pull in packages related to X system or sound subsystem. For this reason part of OpenJDK package has been split into headless subpackage which has smaller dependency chain. Fedora packages should be migrated to require java-headlesss instead of full java package when appropriate.

Current status

Detailed Description

OpenJDK package in Fedora has been traditionally monolithic, pulling in a lot of dependencies including (but not limited to)

libXrender

libXi

libXtst

pulseaudio

This is obviously not optimal for minimal server installations where OpenJDK is used for web application development and deployment.

Designed after Debian packaging, Fedora OpenJDK package has been split into packages providing java and java-headless. This makes it possible for packages to use "Requires: java-headless". For most libraries and generic packages this is sufficient. End-user applications should keep "Requires: java" to pull in full OpenJDK package.

This change aims to convert most Java packages to have "Requires: java-headless" when appropriate. BuildRequires on java-devel are unaffected.

(note) JavaSIG has several proven packages that could assist with this change

Release engineering:

mass rebuild is not necessary but it would simplify things

Policies and guidelines:

Packaging:Java needs to be modified to account for java-headless package existence (Note: there is already a packaging draft that aims to do that among other changes)

Upgrade/compatibility impact

Systems with older Fedora versions that have "java-X.Y.Z-openjdk" package installed will possibly have unneeded packages installed after upgrade. This does not negatively impact the users except wasted storage space.

How To Test

Several Java packages in Fedora can be used to test java-headless change. After the change is implemented installation of following packages on top of minimal installation should not pull in pulseaudio and several X related packages:

ant

maven

wildfly

tomcat

azureus/vuze

Above packages should still work as designed even without "java-X.Y.Z-openjdk" package being installed. Failures would be visible immediately after trying to run an application

Exampole steps to test:

Install minimal installation of Fedora

Install Java application for testing

Verify only java-X.Y.Z-openjdk-headless package is installed and not full java-X.Y.Z-openjdk

Verify that tested Java application works (differs from application to application)

User Experience

Smaller installation size and dependency chain when installing Java applications that do not require X system or audio capabilities.

Dependencies

No outside dependencies, Fedora has full control over all elements of this change.

Contingency Plan

Contingency mechanism:

Nothing needs to be done. If not all packages are converted, part of dependency chains might still pull in "java" package with full X and pulseaudio (i.e. no change from end-user perspective)